Benj Edwards

Is there a way I can set up a direct hotline with my elderly mom between my house and her apartment that:

1) is secure
2) no one else can call
3) does not require batteries/charging
4) is immobile and can’t be lost

She has an Internet connection and a cell phone already but often forgets to charge it. Another cell or landline opens her up to 2x predatory junk aimed at seniors

I am thinking like the red Batphone in Batman ‘66

Feb 12, 2023 at 1:51pmMastodon for iOS
Show threadSTEMcoding ProjectFeb 12, 2023
@benjedwards there's a republic wireless product called relay that sounds a lot like that
Show thread48kRAMFeb 12, 2023
@benjedwards Cheap voip phone plus Asterisk on a small computer (I'd say RPi but....)
Show threadAlex ChaffeeFeb 12, 2023

@benjedwards

my friend has had good (though far from perfect) results with a Meta Portal installed in her mom’s room

i was feeling weird about recommending a Meta product but I just checked and apparently they’ve been discontinued so… yay? 😁

sorry for the rug pull — i’m sure other always-on/instant-on video portal products exist but I can’t recommend any

https://www.meta.com/portal/

Meta Portal – Video calling devices with Alexa built-in

Easily video call friends and family with Meta Portal. All Portal video calling devices come with Alexa built-in, so you can see and do more.

Show threadDavid GrubbFeb 12, 2023
@benjedwards voip phone adapter + old school phone + service that supports whitelisting. Did a quick search and voip.ms popped up as a potential option.
Show threadScaredyCatFeb 12, 2023
@benjedwards asterisk pbx + ATA + ring capacitor + red dial phone
Show threadScaredyCatFeb 12, 2023
@benjedwards You should be able yo configure the ATA to dial when the handset is lifted too, so she wouldn't even need to dial numbers.
Show threadjordanFeb 12, 2023
@benjedwards If you have a VPN between the two locations, you could configure a couple of SIP phones or ATAs to dial each other directly, with no intervening server. My old Grandstream ATA also has a "hot phone" setting that lets you set it up to dial as soon as the phone goes off the hook.
Show threadBenj EdwardsFeb 12, 2023
@jordan This is a cool idea
Show threadSteven HuggFeb 12, 2023
@benjedwards you can get an Alexa thingie and use the app to call it
Show threadroyterdwFeb 12, 2023

@benjedwards Instead of a direct hotline, I suggest you share contact info with her neighbors and the landlord. Get to know them a little and encourage them to call if they notice a change in her health or routine. Your mom might not want to worry or trouble you by using the hotline.

My elderly neighbor had passed. I saw less of her in the last weeks of her life. I didn't have her son and daughter's numbers. They called and came by regularly, but I regret not having their contact info.

I know how you're feeling. My mom turns her phone on when she wants to make a call.

Show threadMelindaFeb 12, 2023

@benjedwards

They should be selling something exactly for this purpose, at least they do here in Germany.

There are companies that offer a "base station" and an emergency button either on an armband or a chain for the elderly person to wear. The button will make the base station call a hotline and then they will try to establish contact through speaker/microphone with the person in need.

But I think you can also get a programmable armband to put your own number in.

I guess they will need some sort of charging / battery swap, but will probably last a good while.

Show threadCarl M. JohnsonFeb 12, 2023
@benjedwards What about a fax line? It won’t take regular calls but you can still send “emails” via fax.
Show threadStuart Longland (VK4MSL)Feb 12, 2023

@carlmjohnson @benjedwards

Lots of telcos are dropping the analogue circuits needed for fax machines.

Telstra for example announced they'd be disconnecting PSTN services in my area of Brisbane back in 2020. So we had to migrate to VoIP.

I tried getting a multi-function printer/scanner/fax going… I could send a fax reliably with a 56kbps modem but the dedicated fax struggled…

Show threadMichael HendersonFeb 12, 2023
@benjedwards search for "whitelist call blockers." There are a few models that allow you to specify the allowed incoming numbers. Can still be spoofed.
Show threadJeffFeb 13, 2023
@benjedwards Alexa is the closest I can think of. You can drop in with audio and video. There’s an Amazon Together subscription but it’s pretty pricey now and includes a monitoring service. Tried something like this with my parents but the Alexa’s were unplugged after it started talking during their shows. 😂 https://www.safewise.com/what-is-alexa-together/
What is Alexa Together? Amazon’s New Caregiver Service | SafeWise.com

Alexa Together is a new Amazon service that connects caregivers to their loved one’s Amazon Echo. Learn more about its pricing and features.

SafeWise
Show threadchristianmlongFeb 15, 2023
@benjedwards If/when you get this working, I think it would make for an interesting writeup on Ars. Lots of us middle-aged geeks have this exact problem.